The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has dragged Professor Godwin Ojo Igbinoba before Honourable Justice A. N. Erhabor of Criminal Court 1, Benin City, High Court of Edo State. The Commission rearraigned the Professor on a three-count charge related to degree peddling and forgery.
The first count by the Commission accused Professor Igbinoba of unlawfully awarding academic degrees to members of the public through the Association of Professional Examination Board and the Association of Corporation of Chartered Secretaries, Benin City.
The Professor was alleged to have issued Bachelor of Science Degrees and National Diplomas without the necessary approvals from the Federal Ministry of Education, National Board for Technical Education, or the National Universities Commission
The second count charge pertains to forgery in violation of Section 465 of the Criminal Code Act and punishable under Section 467 of the same Act.
The Commission also accused Professor Igbinoba of forging a National Youth Service Corps, NYSC Exemption Certificate. The certificate was dated March 12, 2018, and presented to one Osian Jude Tony.
The third count alleged that the Professor obtained money under false pretenses. Which is contrary to and punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code Act.
ICPC is insisting that Professor Igbinoba purportedly misled unsuspecting Nigerians into believing that the Associated Professional Examination Board and Association of Corporation of Chartered Secretaries offered accredited educational programmes leading to recognized qualifications.
“As a result,” ICPC stated that students reportedly paid tuition fees into various bank accounts linked to the institution.
One of the charges reads: “That you, Prof. Godwin (M), sometime between October 2007 and March 2018, at the Association of Professional Examination Board and Association of Corporation of Chartered Secretaries, located at 144 Ikpoba Slope, Benin City, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, falsely assumed authority to award school certificates, Bachelor of Science Degrees, and National Diplomas when the institution did not have the approval of the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Board for Technical Education, or the accreditation of the National Universities Commission to conduct courses, offer certifications, or grant degrees.”
When the matter was revisited recently, the defendant appeared in court in person, represented by his legal counsel, P. E. Chukwu. While D. N. Okoro from the ICPC Legal Unit, Edo State Office prosecuted the case.
The court was informed that the defendant had previously been arraigned before Honourable Justice Efe Ikponmwonba.
However, following a reassignment of the case to Honourable Justice Erhabor, the proceedings had to commence afresh.
Professor Igbinoba retook his plea and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The defence counsel requested that the bail conditions previously granted to the defendant remain in effect, a motion which the court granted.
The case has been adjourned until May 19, 2025 for hearing.